The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-03-19

THE NEW SLAVE TRADE.


irresponsible Labor Recruiting in the
South Seas" on Thursday last, has been
replied to- as we suspected would be the
case, by the "Herald." Nevertheless
we regret that stress of circumstances
should compel our contemporary to de-
fend the Slave Trade even by indirection
Because the Allie Rowe, "blackbirding'
in the South Seas, without Government
sanction or authority of any kind what
ever, would assuredly have been treated
as SLAYER by any national ship that
might have encountered her; and more
over, the surrounding conditions in her
case would have fully warranted any
English or French ship in so regarding
that vessel.
Before saying anything further on this
black business however, it is our duty to
apologize to those interested in the Allie
Rowe venture for attributing to them
participation in legitimate labor passen-
ger business during the late cruise of
that vessel. They evidently feel
aggrieved at such an imputation, as we
have had reason to suppose from pri-
vate intimation to that effect, and as we
know more precisely from the denial in
the "Herald." We enormously stated
that the Allie Rowe landed Government
labor immigrants at Jaluit. That would
have been legitimate business, and if
the terms of the contract had been car
ried understanding such to have ex-
lsted-the passage money would have
been honestly earned. No such honest
commercial element, however, enters
into the transaction, and we confess that
we deserve reproof for supposing that it
did. That was not the 'lay'' on which
the vessel sailed. The Allie Rowe was
not engaged to carry Government immi-
grants. What, then, was she engaged
to do? For answer, we shall copy the
briggs report, which appeared in the
ADVERTISER, March 18th:
The Hawaiian brig Allie Rowe, Captain
j. Phillips, arrived yesterday afternoon. %
days from Jaiuit Chief Officer Henderson
reports as follows: Sailed from Honolulu
September II, 1886 Arrived at Jaluit
after pleasant run of II days. Landed
passengers, and then proceeded to the
New Hebrides group, arriving there on the
18th of October. Cruised around the
islands and took on board 125 natives-1O5
men and 20 females-for the Pacific Navi-
CATION Company. She left Savannah Har-
Dor January 18th for Jaluit, and made the
latter place February 18th. Took in stores
and water there. Captain Macy, formerly
of the Hawaiian. schooner Kapiolani. and
Mr. Melley, were passengers from Jaluit
for Honolulu
Yet in face of this official report the
Herald inspired as it candidIy adj
mits, says: "The Allie Rowe did not eo
to Jaluit." In all probability the further
qualified denials or explanations in our
contemporary contain about the same
quality OF truth as this broad statement
The fact is, the Allie Rowe touched Of
.Ialuit going and returning.
The "Herald" then goes on to say:
Our morning contemporary is further
astray, as We were ourselves in a news item
the other day in implying that the Allie
Rowe brought laborers here ton spec
This fact makes its reference to '.pur-
ehasers'' of the people unju Jtly harsh. All
the labOrers were contracted for before the
vessel left here.
Ihls is very extraordinary and dam
aging statement to make, but we sus
pect it is only half the truth. Is it not
fact that an average of sos per head
was paid by plantation managers
for the 'human cbattel'' which the
Herald itself, on the I4th instant
said were described as the likeliest lot
ever landed on the beachp' It is ouita
true that this ''likeIiest lot ever landed
on the beach, were not put up to auc-
ZION IN slave pen" but were worked
Oh privately; but the elements of sale
ana purchase entered into the transac
'ion' either before the departure of the
Aiiie Rowe to procure a supply of ISL
amos labor, if the Herald he correct
or after her return, as we more CHART
ably assumed was the case. If Il bo
true that "all the laborers were con
tracted for before the vessel left here },
1t gives the transaction a far blacker
hue, and exposes the plantation interests
OF this Kingdom to an imputation of pro-
curing cheap servile labor by methods
which civilized nations have bound
themselves to suppress.
Now, let us know what plantations